Background: Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is a marker of inflammation, oxidative stress and it is associated with adverse prognosis in cardiovascular disease. The aim of the present cohort study is to investigate the prognostic value of GDF-15 in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) during long-term follow up.
Method: A total of 3641 consecutive patients with CAD were prospectively enrolled into the study and followed up for all cause death and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) up to 6.4 years. Plasma GDF-15 was measured and clinical data and long-term events were registered. The patients were subsequently divided into three groups by the levels of GDF-15 and the association of GDF-15 level with MACEs was evaluated.
Result: After a median follow-up at 6.4 years later, 775 patients (event rate of 21%) had developed MACEs and 275 patients died (event rate of 7.55%). Kaplan–Meier analysis indicated that the patients with GDF-15 > 1800 ng/L were significantly associated with an increased risk of MACEs and all cause death. After adjustment for potential confounders, GDF-15 > 1800 ng/L. were independently associated with the composite of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) (HR 1.74; 95% CI: 1.44–2.02; p<0.001) and all-cause death (HR 2.04; 95% CI 1.57– 2.61; p<0.001). For MACEs a significant increase of receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC)curve was seen after addition of GDF-15 to a clinical model 0.628(95% CI 0.605–0.651; p <0.001).For long-term all-cause death a significant increase of ROC curve was seen after addition of GDF-15 to a clinical model 0.817(95% CI 0.787–0.846; p<0.001).
Conclusions: In the setting of CAD, GDF-15 is associated with long-term all-cause death, MACEs and provides incremental prognostic value beyond traditional risks factors.